Wire-stretcher.



No. 639,2!7. Patented Dec. 19. I899.

M. E. DAVIS.

WIRE STBETCHER.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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TEN T MERTON E. DAVIS, OF FAYSTON, VERMONT.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 689,217, dated December 19, 1899. Application filed November 28, 1898. Serial No. 697,614. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERTON E. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayston, in the county of Washington and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the kind above mentioned which will enable the person operating it to more readily and efficaciously stretch or tighten wires and secure the same to a fixed standard-as, for instance, a fence-post-and it consists in the combination of parts and ar rangements of details hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, referred to herein, like letters referring to like parts in each figure thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wirestretcher embodying my invention in opera tion. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with ends cut away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The handle or arm A is rounded at its outer end and has its inner end enlarged and fiattened, being provided at this part with a shoe B, of iron or other suitable material, which covers the said end and also extends a suitable distance from the end upon the upper and lower surface of the handle. This shoe is rounded on its outer extremity, so as to form approximately the arc of a circle, the object of which will be hereinafter explained.

A short distance from the outer extremity of the shoe the bolt G is located, passing through the upper and lower sides of the shoe and also through the handle A. The object of this bolt is to assist in securing the shoe upon the handle and also to act as a pivot upon which the plate E, bearing the arm or fulcrum-piece E turns. It is provided with a stepped head 0, the inner part of which bears against the under side of the shoe and the outer part against the said plate E, thus serving the double purpose of confining the shoe and the plate. The bolt D is similarly constructed, assisting the bolt 0 in holding the shoe and the plate in position and also confining the oscillation of the plate and pivotpiece by means of the annular slot E through which its head projects. The shoe B is also preferably secured to the arm by other suitable means of attachment.

The plate E turns upwardly at the end of the shoe, having the piece E disposed at an angle to the said end, so that there will be a space 6 between the same. The fulcrumpiece E is formed by an extension of the plate E, being preferably composed of the same continuous piece of metal turned at right angles to the said plate and is provided at its outer extremity with a hook E for the purpose of removing staples or other fastenings.

The operation of this device is as follows: When it is desired to tighten a wire-as, for instance, the fence-wire shown in Fig. 1--the fastening is first removed by the hook E and the tightener applied to the wire by placing it in position with the wire W in the space a and the fulcrum-piece E against the side of the post or other standard X. The handle A is then pressed backward in the direction toward which it is desired to draw the wire. Its first action is to grip the wire between the end of the shoe and the piece E as it turns upon the pivot-bolt O, the grip tightening until the handle is in line or nearly in line with the fulcrum-piece E The handle is then pressed still farther backward until the wire has been drawn to a sufiioient tension, when it may be secured by the application of a staple or other suitable means of fastening. The

outer extremity of the shoe at the point directly in line with the length of the handle is at a somewhat greater distance from the pivot-bolt than at any other point in its rounded end, so that when the said handle is disposed directly in line with the fulcrumpiece E the space 6 is smaller than at any other time, and consequently the wire heldin a tighter grip.

By the use of this device it will be seen the wire may be stretched from either direction by applying the stretcher to one side. or the other of the post.

What I claim is- 1. In a wire-stretcher the combination of an arm having a shoe at one end and a piece pivotally secured thereon by means of a bolt passing through all three and confining the shoe upon the arm, and a portion of said pivoted piece disposed opposite the outer rounded end of the shoe, the said opposite surfaces converging inwardly.

2. In a Wire-stretcher the combination of an arm or handle having a metallic shoe on one end and a member composed of a single piece of material pivoted to said shoe and handle by means of a bolt and having a turned-up portion disposed opposite the outer rounded end of the shoe in such manner that the opposing surfaces diverge outwardly, and a bolt passing through an annular slot in said pivoted piece secured to the arm and shoe adj a cent to the pivot.

3. In a Wire-stretcher the combination of an arm having a shoe at one end and a piece pivotally secured thereon by means of a bolt passing through all three and confining the shoe upon the arm, and a portion of said pivoted piece disposed opposite the outer rounded end of the shoe, and a second bolt similar to the first on the side of same opposite said rounded end projecting through an annular slot in said pivoted piece, the said opposite surfaces converging inwardly and a portion of said pivoted piece extending to form a hook on its outer extremity.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of November, 1898.

MERTON E. DAVIS. In presence of- CHARLES E. J ONES, W. B. Rrormnoson. 

